Can Trey Burke and Michigan win the Big Ten this season? Here's a look at how the field stacks up. Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

ANN ARBOR -- The Michigan basketball team is 13-0, ranked No. 2 in America and is beating teams by an average of 21.6 points per game.

That's nice.

But it's time to get serious now.

"It's not how you start," Michigan point guard Trey Burke said Saturday after the Wolverines moved to 13-0. "It's how you finish."

Michigan's start is officially over. Now, for the main course. Big Ten play.

The Wolverines open their 2012-13 league slate with the program's best record in 26 years, and for the first time in two decades, Michigan enters conference play as one of the favorites to finish the season with a championship.

Michigan's Big Ten season begins Thursday at Northwestern (7 p.m., ESPN2). But for now, let's handicap the season -- the favorites, the contenders, and everyone else.

The favorite(s)

Michigan (13-0)
The Wolverines have the league's best backcourt in Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., the league's best shooter in Nik Stauskas and the league's best record at 13-0.

And, outside of maybe Indiana, no one has more depth. This is John Beilein's best team, but can it act that way throughout the marathon that is the Big Ten season?

Cause for concern: Michigan's only road game this season was at Bradley. The Wolverines still play five freshmen in their top nine, and have yet to encounter a traditionally raucous Big Ten crowd. How will they handle it?

Indiana (12-1)
Michigan has a lot on its plate, but it doesn't have Cody Zeller -- the player who draws more attention than anyone else in the Big Ten, as the conference's top player.

The Hoosiers also have a bevy of athletic depth and a great deal of outside shooting talent, as usual. Victor Oladipo is one of the best perimeter defenders in the country, and has as much explosiveness off the dribble as anyone. And, like Michigan, the Hoosiers can truly roll nine or 10 deep and not miss a beat.

Cause for concern: What Christian Watford is going to show up? The one who should be terrorizing opponents due to consistent mismatches playing alongside Zeller, or the one who seems to float through games and makes little to no impact at all?

The Contenders

Minnesota (12-1)
This is Tubby Smith's best Golden Gopher squad, without a doubt. Trevor Mbakwe's back, Rodney Williams continues to progress and Andre Hollins has made a big leap from his freshman to sophomore season, so far, in the backcourt.

The Gophers also lead the Big Ten in blocks, offensive rebounds and steals, and are extremely athletic at just about every spot on the floor.

Cause for concern: In many other years, this roster would probably be good enough to be considered a Big Ten favorite. But this isn't any other year. The Gophers don't have the depth of Indiana or Michigan, Michigan State actually has more depth, too, in my opinion. The Gophers have horses, but do they have enough?

Michigan State (11-2)
The Spartans haven't looked pretty at times, but they're still 11-2 and they did beat Kansas.

Michigan State doesn't have Draymond Green anymore, but it does have depth. Gary Harris, Keith Appling, Derrick Nix and Branden Dawson are all capable of putting up big offensive numbers. Inside, Nix and Adreian Payne combine to average 15.3 boards per game.

Cause for concern: Michigan State doesn't have a shooter. Not one. Russell Byrd seems to have fallen out of the rotation, and if someone else doesn't start stretching the defense, MSU can get pretty predictable.

Illinois (13-1)
If there was an award for preseason coach of the year, John Groce would probably have it on his mantle right now.

Michigan fans remember Groce, the guy who led Ohio past the Wolverines in the second round of the NCAA tournament last March. At Ohio, Groce had D.J. Cooper -- at Illinois, he has Brandon Paul. Paul is the league's second-leading scorer, and one of the most exciting offensive players you'll watch this season.

Cause for concern: Illinois seems to play more as a team under Groce, but the Illini don't have a lot of girth without Meyers Leonard. Only Northwestern is a worse rebounding team.

Ohio State (10-2)
The Buckeyes have the league's top scorer, and one of the most potent offensive players in America in junior Deshaun Thomas.

Thomas can score from deep, off the dribble and inside. Ohio State also has two point guard who can get the job done in Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott, and Lenzelle Smith Jr. has taken a big step forward in the scoring department this year. The Buckeyes still have athletes, they have a top scorer and they're more than steady at the point guard spot.

Cause for concern: Outside of Thomas, Ohio State has no other proven scorer. Smith is the only other player averaging in double figures. William Buford and Jared Sullinger are gone, and the Buckeyes don't have much depth to speak of offensively.

The middle

Wisconsin (9-4)
This is still Bo Ryan's Wisconsin.

The Badgers are No. 2 in the Big Ten in scoring defense, they have the fewest turnovers of anyone in the league and they can still control pace. They're not fun to play, and that's what they thrive on. But, there's no star (Jordan Taylor's gone) to run the show this season. Not yet, anyway.

Cause for concern: Point guard Josh Gasser was lost for the year due to a preseason injury, and Wisconsin's hopes for contending for a league title went with him. Wisconsin can still defend and control the pace of the game, but can it score?

Iowa (11-2)
Next season, Iowa won't be this low. It just won't happen.

Fran McCaffery has done a very nice job of bringing in players to fit his system, and by the end of the year, Iowa will have wrecked at least one heavy hitter's night with an upset win.

Devyn Marble is averaging better than 15 points per game, and Aaron White is an all-effort guy who almost always makes an impact. Add in freshman point guard Mike Gesell and fellow rookie center Adam Woodbury, and Iowa could be a tough check before the year's out.

Cause for concern: Are the Hawkeyes ready for primetime? They just don't have enough proven depth to be listed higher right now. But don't be surprised if this team finishes in the top half of the league before all's said and done.

Sorry, not happening

Northwestern (9-4)
If Drew Crawford and JerShon Cobb were active, Northwestern would be back in the conversation for a fringe NCAA tournament bid.

But Crawford's done for the year with an injury, and Cobb's been suspended. The drought will continue in Evanston.

Cause for concern: John Shurna and Crawford were a lethal duo, at times, last season and the Wildcats still didn't make the tournament. Neither will suit up for the Wildcats in Big Ten play this year. Not good.

Nebraska (9-4)
If charisma counts for anything, then Nebraska coach Tim Miles is making strides.

But in this league, I'm not sure it matters.

Cause for concern: The Huskers just don't have the horses right now. Not in this league. And, Nebraska can't score. NU is 293rd nationally with 61.7 points per game.

Purdue (6-6)
Matt Painter's seen better days in West Lafayette. Robbie Hummel's gone, and it's complete rebuilding time for the Boilermakers. Terone Johnson's the team's top scorer, and he shoots less than 40 percent from the floor.

Cause for concern: Painter said earlier this year that this has been the toughest stretch of his coaching career. Hummel and Lewis Jackson are gone, and Purdue doesn't quite know what to do about that right now.

Penn State (8-4)
If Tim Frazier were healthy, maybe the Nittany Lions wouldn't be headed for the basement.

But he ruptured his Achilles earlier this year -- and, well, the basement it is.

Cause for concern: D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall can play, but without Frazier, this team has no chance in this league.